"Very intricate plot and a fabulous romance!"

Piper Caraway, a horse rancher, is at the local fair intent on
getting back what was taken from her: her precious Friesian,
Gladiator. Piper, trying to remain inconspicuous, noticed a
handsome stranger who looked suspiciously like a police
officer, so she needs to be even more cautious. The handsome
stranger, Colby Vale, is indeed a detective with the Destiny
Police Department. He wasn't on a case, he was merely hanging
out with friends, but a cop never stops being a cop, so he goes
to investigate what the stranger is doing close to the horses.
Colby then nabs Piper, or thought he did...

STRANDED WITH THE DETECTIVE by Lena Diaz starts off looking
like a simple,
straightforward romantic suspense, and yet there are so many
layers, so many twists. It just never stops and that simple
story is, in fact, very intricate. The romance is very
skillfully woven into the intrigue. While trying to save
themselves, left alone in the forest, Piper and Colby have
little more to do than talk. At the same time, they are
shedding light on what happened to Piper's horse and why.
They get to know each other, which leads to terrific banter and
them getting closer. Piper is plucky, smart, resourceful, and
soft-hearted to a fault, and in fact pretty much like Colby.
Their chemistry is undeniable from the start, yet nothing was
rushed.

I often prefer my romantic suspense heavier on the suspense,
but the romance in STRANDED WITH THE DETECTIVE is absolutely
exquisite, every moment a delight! The book would have been
worth reading for the romance alone, which is seldom the case
for romantic suspense. Everything happens at the right time,
the romance never interferes with the suspense, and it feels
genuine. STRANDED WITH THE DETECTIVE is smoothness itself!

SUMMARY

A routine investigation turns deadly

Now they’re running for survival

SWAT officer Colby Vale and horse rancher Piper Caraway are
left to die in the remote wilderness of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. But for Colby, death is not an option. He vows to
protect Piper as they navigate the treacherous way home.
Surviving against nature is difficult. Fighting their
attraction is harder. But when their tormentor makes his move…
living to tell their tale may be impossible.